Let’s get into the fight breakdown and predictions for the upcoming bout. Chase Hooper is expected to open up in the Southpaw stance. Historically, Slava Claus has opened up Orthodox against Orthodox fighters, but he switched to Southpaw when facing Nazim Sadikov, who is a Southpaw. Therefore, it’s likely that Slava will also open up Southpaw against Hooper.

Slava prefers to match his opponent’s stance, possibly because of his versatile kicking ability. He can effectively kick from both Orthodox and Southpaw stances, as seen with his outside low kicks against Sadikov. He doesn’t limit himself to outside low kicks; he also utilizes inside kicks and reversal kicks. His leg kicks are particularly impactful, landing 17 of 18 in round one, 6 of 7 in round two, and 4 of 3 in round three against Sadikov. These leg kicks could be a significant factor in the fight, especially considering Hooper’s previous bout against Steve Garcia, where Garcia’s heavy low kicks from Southpaw stance caused trouble for Hooper.

When Slava fights Southpaw, his takedown defense appears weaker, although it’s not particularly strong in any stance. He struggles to sprawl and has given up takedowns easily when fighting Southpaw versus Southpaw, as well as Orthodox versus Orthodox. If the fight remains standing, Slava has a considerable advantage. His striking is superior, and he maintains a high guard, making it difficult for opponents to land significant strikes. Hooper, moving up from featherweight to lightweight, lacks knockout power and has not recorded any UFC knockdowns, suggesting he won’t pose a knockout threat to Slava.

On the feet, Slava is expected to dominate. He’s adept at working the body, with a history of liver shot TKOs, and will likely target Hooper’s taller, longer frame with body shots and kicks. However, head strikes shouldn’t be discounted, as Hooper has limited head movement and tends to keep his head on the center line, making him vulnerable to knockdowns.

For Hooper to have a chance at victory, he must take the fight to the ground. Despite Slava’s tendency to give up takedowns, Hooper’s own takedown accuracy is only around 20-25%. Slava’s ability to quickly get back to his feet could negate Hooper’s grappling attempts. Hooper is aggressive with submissions when he gains advantageous positions, but if Slava creates any space, he’ll attempt to escape and return to a standing position. Hooper may look for guillotines or leg locks, but his success with submissions has been limited, often resulting in him ending up on his back.

The best strategy for Slava is to keep the fight standing, disengage if Hooper pulls guard, and focus on leg strikes to eventually secure a finish. Hooper will need to achieve takedowns, maintain control, and seek a submission to win, but his track record suggests he prioritizes submissions over control, which could allow Slava the opportunity to stand up and dictate the fight on the feet.

Official Prediction: Borshchev by Knockout / TKO

Watch our full 29 minute breakdown on this fight as we provide everything you need to know.